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11.12.2011

Victory Over Death

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

1 Corinthians 15:55

I realize I am getting older. The weight of this world weighs heavier on me as I age. My husband and I spend more time talking about things I am hard pressed to believe we are discussing. One of the jokes of the past few weeks has been checking out cemetery plots. The funny part is my hubby is not really joking. So trepidatiously, I walk with him, just as I did when he began telling me about his thoughts on us getting married. I trust this man. I tell him, I have called in advance for the gravediggers to dig a fresh grave, which I plan to push him in, while we are strolling through the cemetery. Yes, I know, I have a sick sense of humor. But it has kept us laughing through the good & bad times as well as the ups and downs of twenty something years of friendship.

There was a time I wanted to outrun life. I was driven. Part of that driven-ness was the fear of death. I knew my time was short and I wanted to grab all I could in this life because I knew tomorrow might not come. I was "Running With The Devil" and I ran hard. But, when I came to know Jesus Christ as my Savior, one of the things that he dealt with, was the fear of death. I felt like a sprinter who trips up on the track, and looks around to see what caused that "trip up" to happen. Jesus gave me cause to pause and consider what I was running from and contemplate where I was heading. Driven, describes my life before Christ. I remember a neighbor who watched me leave my apartment daily as I balanced work, school, competition and anything else I could squeeze in. He called out to me, "You need to take time and smell the roses". I didn't see his point. I mean the roses were there anyway, I had stuff to do, see, experience and be. Smelling roses seemed like something for old people to do. You know the ones with all the time in the world on their hands. HA! So, here I am full circle. I'm not one to let a wise word, escape me, even if at first I appear to disregard it. I knew I was running. But even then, in my twenties, I felt the pressure of the brevity of life. Satan used it to drive me hard, but when I met The Savior, I was free from that pressure. In place of fear, I had joy. In place of fear, I received love. In place of fear, grace blossomed within. In place of fear I had a Solid Rock, on which to stand. In place of fear, I was given eternal life. In place of fear I grew in grace. In place of fear, I found peace. In place of fear, I gained hope. In place of fear, Truth remains.

Today, I am thankful that through Jesus Christ I will live forever. Death has no power over me. I am not driven by fear. I know where I am going. I will be more magnificently united with the One who holds my heart today.

Today, I am thankful that Jesus Christ has gained the victory over death and he holds the keys to eternity. Today I am grateful that death holds no power over me.

I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

1 Corinthians 15:54

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said:

“Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

Revelation 1:17-18

For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs ofliving water.And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

Revelation 7:17

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.